Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) News Blog

2011-09-11T10:03:00.000-04:00

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BCBS On Children With Pre-Existing Conditions

2010-09-13T21:34:00.002-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield has made a statement on their website stating that they will include annual enrollment periods for the children's preexisting condition exclusion rule. Scott P. Serota, the president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association released this statement a few months ago.

Serota goes on to say that they are excited to clarify this rule and are thankful that the administration responded to concerns from BCBS about possible adverse selection that may occur if an open enrollment period was not offered. The new policy should ensure that children get comprehensive coverage while avoiding unintended consequences. It helps the consistency with other public and private health insurance plans.

BCBS has been working closely with the administration to find potential issues and seek solutions for a smooth transition of the new health care reform bill. Blue Cross insurance quotes continue to be very popular, and BCBS is on top of the reform bill and working very closely with government to ensure the best possible situation for consumers and this may increase their business even further.

BCBSGA 360 Health Philosophy

2010-08-24T22:16:00.004-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia offers a unique program called 360 Degrees Health Philosophy which goes over the crucial basics of staying healthy. They offer a health assessment which determines your overall health status by completing the MyHealth Assessment offered on the BCBSGA website.

The results of the assessment can help members identify health risks and compares risks to other members. They then give steps to take to make improvements to lifestyle in order to improve health. Many health topics are covered including asthma, children's health, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, heart failure, and pregnancy.

Other topics covered by this unique and valuable program include patient safety tips, tobacco use, acne, alcohol use, anemia, Alzheimer's Disease, anxiety, arthritis, breast health and cancer information. There is a wide array of additional topics covered and the list can be viewed online or you can call to request additional information from BCBSGA.

BCBSIL Gives Awards

2010-08-17T20:45:00.004-04:00

For 2010, seven Illinois companies have been honored for outstanding worksite wellness programs from The Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL).

This award, known as the WOWie, recognizes employers who challenge the health of their employees and work hard to created a work environment that promotes healthy eating and physical exercise. Winners will be recognized at the ISC - SHRM annual meeting this month in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The seven recipients include City of St. Charles Wellness Program and Team, City of Highland Park, TRW Automotive, Robinson Engineering, DISTek Integrations, Lafarge Joppa, and Alper Services LLC. This is a huge honor for these companies who dedicate time and money to ensuring the health of their employees, which not only keeps productivity up, but tends to keep employees' health insurance costs lower.

BCBSAL Long Term Health Care

2010-08-07T21:27:00.003-04:00

One out of five people over the age of 50 years will need some type of long term care in the next year according to the information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama website. Approximately 40% of people in the United States who end up needing some form of long term care are under the age of 65 and these are the people who think they will not need it in the near future.

To help prepare consumers who may need long term care soon, BCBSAL offers valuable information on their website about the various options available to them. Long term care may be needed in the case of a severe accident, a stroke or various different medical conditions. Less than 20% of long term care is offered in a nursing home. The rest can be carried out in people's homes which is very reassuring.

Consumers are nervous about the cost of long term care. In Alabama for example, it could cost someone up to $50,000 per year in long term care costs, so this shows the value of carrying insurance to cover this type of expense. Preferred LTC is offered through BCBSAL and is available to protect families and offer peace of mind in case of a catastrophic event.

BCBSGA on Health Care Reform

2010-07-27T20:47:00.002-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia's website has good information on the new health care reform bill recently signed into law. There is an informative FAQ on their site specifically about the early extension of dependent benefits which went into effect June 1, 2010 even though the government bill doesn't require it until September 2010.

As of June 1, BCBSGA provides coverage to dependents who otherwise may have faced a period with no health insurance coverage due to age or student status. This enables graduating students to have continued health care coverage while they look for employment or other health insurance options.

Eligible member dependents already enrolled will be identified through their birthday in the system and continued coverage will be automatic. The early extension of benefits will apply to current members only and just for those dependents who would be too old for their parent's coverage based on old requirements as of June 1.

Blue Cross Insurance Quote

2010-07-19T21:16:00.003-04:00

You may want to get Blue Cross Insurance quotes after you understand their innovative health club for kids. The Good Health Club is dedicated to eliminating childhood obesity and through numerous unique programs they are on their way to their goal.

The Good Health Club encourages healthy choices in kids through fun, age-appropriate methods. They use animated characters to teach children the basics of good health such as eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, watching less than 2 hours of television each day, remain active for at least one hour a day and avoid sweetened drinks.

One of the most important aspects of this program is the Good Health Club Physician Toolkit. This provides effective tools necessary to educate parents and kids about the dangers of childhood obesity and diabetes prevention. It was developed alongside the American Diabetes Association and American Academy of Pediatrics in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield companies across the the US. This is an outstanding program making BCBS stand out in the health care arena.

BCBSIL on Preventative Care

2010-07-11T22:08:00.002-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) knows the importance of preventative care and gives advice on their website. Having good health habits is crucial to preventing serious health issues. Keeping up with vaccinations, eating a balanced, health diet, and exercising regularly are the main aspects to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

According to the BCBSIL website stress plays an important role in your overall health. Staying stress free or limiting excessive stress can greatly improve your health. Mental health can be maintained through relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga.

Getting regular checkups and knowing your health numbers is very important. Numbers such as cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, and waist measurement are extremely useful in determining how healthy you really are and help you manage the numbers to healthy levels through lifestyle and/or medication.

Getting educated and following a health plan takes dedication and patience, but following through can mean a better quality of life in the long run.

BCBSAL Health Plans

2010-06-24T20:42:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) offers a variety of health plans and they have unique benefits for their customers. They offer plans for families, individuals, Medicare beneficiaries, and various groups. They also have health plans for long-term care and the Federal Employee Program (FEP) leaving consumers with a lot of choices.

Individuals can get free health insurance quotes online for just themselves, with children or for full families. They also have dental insurance that can be added to a health plan for only $17 each month for individuals or $47 for a family.

Those eligible for Medicare have many choices as well including Medicare Supplement Plans, Medicare Rx only plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Original Medicare Coverage. BCBSAL offers the best health insurance coverage to Alabama Federal Employees and their families. If you decide to go with Blue Cross Federal Employee Health Program, you are automatically eligible for the FEP dental program known as DentalBlue.

Check out what options are best for you if you happen to be in the market for health insurance in Alabama.

BCBSGA

2010-06-15T12:13:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) offers an innovative program called ConditionCare available to their members. This approach aims to help members better manage their own serious health conditions including asthma, diabetes and heart failure.

BCBSGA has a health coaching model which uses a team of health professionals including registered nurses, behaviorists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, and exercise physiologists. This health coaching promotes better participation in treatment and provides ongoing education in addition to phone calls, online support, and educational materials.

ConditionCare Programs focus on adherence to doctor's orders, understanding the disease and its process, healthy lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, and the complete elimination of bad habits such as smoking or excessive drinking.

BCBSGA will refer eligible patients for this unique program through the medical claims system, hospital discharge reports, medical group referrals, and the case management team. If you think you may be eligible it's a plan worth looking into.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Anti-Fraud Efforts

2010-06-06T21:24:00.004-04:00

In 2009 alone, BCBS's anti-fraud efforts resulted in savings and recoveries of over $510 million. This is according to data released last month by BCBSA found on their website. This is a significant increase when compared to 2008 and it contributed a 3 year average return of about $7 for every $1 spent on these anti-fraud efforts.

BCBSA shared these findings from the annual survey at a recent press briefing which highlighted their commitment to putting a stop to healthcare fraud. This is an ongoing effort to save money as well as protect healthcare consumers. Scott P. Serota, CEO and President of BCBSA says Blue companies are gaining significantly in the war on healthcare fraud. He points out that the Blue companies are actively working with federal and state authorities to combat this crime.

BCBSA has maintained strong anti-fraud efforts as part of their ongoing dedication to improving the healthcare system. You can be confident that if you are shopping around for Blue Cross Insurance quotes, you will be well protected against health care identity theft. They have a plan in place to ensure this crime will not spread and they hope to eventually put a stop to it forever.

BCBSIL Sponsors the Fight on Obesity

2010-05-30T22:30:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross along with BCBSIL is sponsoring the fight against obesity in Illinois. President of BCBSIL, Karen Atwood, believes collaboration is the key to promoting healthy habits. She expressed her concerns at the Illinois Department of Public Health's hearings on the impact obesity is having on the state.

Atwood says that the rise in obesity is one of the top health issues in Illinois as well as the US, and she thinks sharing information is the first step toward reducing and eventually preventing obesity. Currently, Illinois ranks the 4th worst in the country for childhood obesity. When just considering adult obesity, it contributes about $3.4 billion to yearly health care costs.

BCBSIL's mission is to promote the health and well-being of their members as well as the communities in Illinois. They are always looking for accessible, cost-effective, and quality health care options for residents. They support 14 health programs in local communities throughout the state specifically designed to improve children's health. Many times children in these communities lack parks, playgrounds and access to healthful foods. That's why these comprehensive programs are a huge help and truly benefit our children.

BCBSAL Online Access

2010-05-20T21:57:00.004-04:00

More and more health insurance companies are becoming mainstream online including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL). This is a great resource for members and knowing BCBSAL has a superior online community is something to consider as you are choosing your health insurance carrier.

BCBSAL's secure gateway to all of your personal health information and valuable online services is through their myBlueCross online resource. Viewing all of your BCBSAL information on their website is easy and very secure. Members are able to view a wide array of information such as claims status, benefits summaries, and health & wellness topics. They can also complete tasks such as ordering new ID cards, ordering forms and materials, as well as reviewing and paying your health insurance bills online.

You can easily register online for the myBlueCross and access valuable health resources, and view benefit information. This is extremely convenient for on-the-go members, especially as more and more people are using the Internet as their main information source. Visit the BCBSAL website for more information.

BCBSGA: Offers 24/7 Nurse Line

2010-05-17T21:35:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) offers a valuable service as part of the benefits package which ensures medical information is always available by phone or online 24 hours a day, every day of the week. This is offered through their 24/7 NurseLine by BCBSGA.

By contacting their toll-free phone hotline you can speak with a nurse confidentially about your symptoms, medications, side-effects, self-care home treatments, support groups, when to go to the doctor, when to go to the ER, local doctor and hospital options, wellness information as well as the most up to date offers from BCBS.

The NurseLine will even follow up with you to see how you are feeling and suggest you take further action when necessary. Health concerns happen any time, day or night so having this readily available service available all the time is extremely valuable. The nurses on NurseLine have years of clinical experience and are supported by a medical information system which is current with medical literature. Knowing about extra perks such as NurseLine can help you choose a carrier and receive Blue Cross insurance quotes.

BCBSIL on Health Care Reform

2010-05-09T21:53:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has supported many aspects of the new health care reform bill recently passed in Congress. The BCBSIL website gives some details on how they plan on preparing their members for the changes to come.

BCBSIL plans on notifying their members as soon as possible of any changes in their policies due to the new law. They will be offering benefits information on their website as well as other enrollment materials. Members do not need to be worried about their policies being cancelled because of anything new in the law. The law may change a particular policy but members will be notified.

The new bill does not set any health insurance rates, although there are some provisions that may affect the cost of premiums and this includes some changes to current benefits. It's unknown what the exact impact in cost will be to members, but BCBSIL intends on working closely with members and employers to ensure that costs stay competitive and information is given quickly. This may end up affecting out-of-pocket costs as well, but again, BCBSIL is dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction and will do everything in their power to keep costs reasonable.

BCBS Covering Young Adults Longer

2010-04-26T21:59:00.004-04:00

Obama's new health care reform signed into law earlier this year has many aspects including Medicare changes that may affect BCBS Medicare supplements. Another major change is an extension of young adults to be on their parents' health insurance policies which needs to be implemented by September 23rd.

BCBS is ahead of the game and is starting this new policy June 1. They realize that by waiting until September to implement, many customers would lose coverage. They are hoping to protect as many consumers as they can.

The BCBSA president and chief executive officer, Scott P. Serota, states that Blue Cross Blue Shield companies across the nation are working together with Congress and state regulators to ensure a smooth transition with the new health care reform. BCBS prioritizes the enhancement of health care coverage for Americans as much as possible. BCBS is showing great initiative and it's hopeful that more health insurance companies follow their example to put into place this law sooner than the September due date.

BCBSAL With Excellent Medicare Options

2010-04-18T21:21:00.003-04:00

With the upcoming changes to health care, many seniors are concerned about how their Medicare options will be affected. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is taking a serious look at their Medicare plans and doing what is best for their customers. Their Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplemental insurance options are varied and offer excellent benefits.

BCBSAL offers many different options from Medicare Rx only plans, Medicare Advantage plans, as well as original Medicare. They also give you valuable tips on what to do before enrolling in a Medicare plan. They advise to first choose a doctor, then compare the different plan prices, calculated your approximate prescription costs, then get additional help if need be.

It's important to do your homework when shopping around for Medicare and you can research all of BCBS plans on their website. They offer C-Plus - Medigap policies, BlueRx (PDP) for prescription drugs, as well as Blue Advantage through PPO health and prescriptions coverage. Each plan offers different benefits that will suit various individuals' needs. Regardless of what plan you choose you will continue to have round the clock service, online information on myBlueCross, and access to BeHealthy.com which has outstanding health resources.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Ranks High In Ohio

2010-04-09T12:40:00.003-04:00

Good news for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio which had a high ranking in JD Power & Associates recent release of their 2010 US Member Health Insurance Plan Study. They use a scale from 0-1000 to rate the various companies and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio ranked a respectable fourth. This factors in the different products, such as BCBS Medicare supplements, plus overall customer satisfaction.

The results indicated that overall customer satisfaction increased from 2008 to 2009 but health plan members were not as satisfied. The top 6 health plans in Ohio include the following:

Humana
Medical Mutual of Ohio
CIGNA
BCBS
United Healthcare
Aetna

BCBS's score was 702 where the highest scoring company, Humana, scored 719.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplemental Insurance Affected by Reform

2010-03-30T21:41:00.004-04:00

Healthcare reform has left many American seniors with many questions. The article "Healthcare Reform: What's In It for Our Seniors" by Bruce Chernof on latimes.com attempts to answer some of those questions.

The plan is for an improvement in all healthcare services for seniors, which includes redoing America's nonexistent long-term care system. Programs such as Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplemental insurance will stay pretty much the same.

There are high numbers of adults over 85 years old and there is an upcoming slam of baby-boomers reaching senior status. This creates a platform for meaningful Medicare reform that's coming at a great time. Reform is setting a framework for long term health care and in addition the bill takes numerous steps to boost the Medicare system and to ensure that the Medicare trust fund will remain in the green, unlike the prediction made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in December. Seniors need not be concerned at this point. Their interests are definitely being seriously considered.

Health Care Reform Vote is In: What Does BCBS Think?

2010-03-22T21:15:00.005-04:00

While Blue Cross Blue Shield supports a health care system that benefits as many people as possible they do have some concerns about the new bill that was voted on Sunday night, March 21st.

The bill intends to crack down on health insurance companies and extend coverage to 32 million Americans. It will ban companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and cut deficits by an approximate $138 billion over the next decade. While this may sound efficient, Blue Cross Blue Shield is worried about the bill inadvertently increase premiums for many and making it downright unaffordable for millions.

The Oliver Wyman Inc report, which is cited on BCBS's website, claims that reform must include a strong individual mandate to keep premiums affordable. While this is part of the bill, the consequences must be enforced in order for it to be effective and that is still to be determined. It's also important to BCBS that the BCBS Medicare supplements are still affordable for eligible members.

BCBSAL Talks About Health Care Reform

2010-03-14T20:55:00.003-04:00

With health care reform continuing to be a hot topic in Congress, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has placed a statement on their website discussing their take on reform. They support fully a health care system that will improve medical care for all Americans. This has been the main goal of BCBSAL for over 70 years.

They do continue to have some concerns about Congress's plan, as do many other health insurance companies. There is some fear that the changes may directly cause negative effects on Alabama patients. The recent proposal that would create a government run plan and could hurt the benefit packages for the 160 million people who are currently receiving health insurance benefits through their employers.

Another change, which could be devastating to the health care system, is the provision which would make it possible for people to purchase health insurance only when they are in need of it. This would increase costs for everyone receiving benefits. There is still some time before we know for sure how the debate will turn out but BCBS supports BCBSAL's statement and all companies want to protect the affordable Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplemental Insurance plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Supports First Lady

2010-03-07T19:48:00.004-05:00

The First Lady, Michelle Obama, has launched a unique program called "Let's Move!" to fight childhood obesity. This national program is a private/public partnership to stop this terrifying epidemic. According to the News on BCBSA's website, BCBSA along with 39 of their independent companies are in strong support of this movement.

The First Lady is bringing together a large number of stakeholders and building a strong team to bring down childhood obesity. Experts estimate that about 1 out of every 3 children is overweight or obese and are getting sicker and sicker. This epidemic is putting young children at risk for adult ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. BCBS agrees this is unacceptable and something needs to be done to change the eating and exercise habits of our kids.

BCBSA continues to have many programs to fight obesity in children as well as adults. Members can access information online about ways to live healthier lifestyles. They even have special programs for those carrying BCBS Medicare supplements to bring healthier lifestyles to seniors. It's important that the First Lady gets all the support she can for this extremely important cause.

BCBS Has Excellent Health Programs in Florida

2010-02-27T20:28:00.005-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSFL) has unique health programs designed to keep their members healthy. They have done research which shows health education and taking part in health care is crucial in overcoming illnesses. BCBSFL offers programs to assist members in managing their health over time.

Some of the important topics which are offered in their programs include care coordination, voluntary pre-service coverage review, prenatal care, as well as chronic disease care for diabetes, asthma, and congestive heart failure. Many members will find these programs extremely useful and they can learn a lot about their bodies.

BCBSFL can take advantage of these programs even if they are using Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Medicare beneficiaries are often older with more illnesses so can really benefit from their various programs.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Has Quality Medigap Plans

2010-02-19T11:54:00.003-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) offers 9 different BCBS Medicare supplements. They have been determined quality plans with different options for their different members.

Their two most comprehensive plans are Plan D and Plan F which also happen to be their most popular plans as well. These plans pay the Medicare Part A hospital deductible as well as copayments. They pay skilled nursing and foreign travel care. They claim that no other plan in Illinois offers a more complete package of benefits to protect you from uncovered Part B expenses.

All BCBSIL Medicare supplement plans give guaranteed acceptance with no questions asked and the freedom to choose any physicians or specialists. This is a huge benefit that not all companies offer. They have many different member discounts on wellness programs such as fitness clubs, weight management, alternative medicine as well as vision and hearing plans.

BCBS on the Health Care Fraud Issue

2010-02-10T19:42:00.004-05:00

There is a statement on Blue Cross Blue Shield's website about the US Department of Health and Human Services' National Summit on Health Care Fraud which was held in January 2010.

BCBSA states that health care fraud is a very serious crime and they support Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder for organizing the beneficial summit. They brought together private stakeholders, law enforcement, Medicare recipients, health insurers, and health care experts to discuss the fight on health care fraud.

BCBS companies across the United States are working together to minimize fraud and educate health insurance customers on how to protect themselves. BCBS anti-fraud movements resulted in about $350 million in savings back in '08. They are protecting all their customers including those receiving Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplemental insurance. BCBS works with Congress to ensure affordable health insurance is not compromised because of fraud.

BCBS Medicare Supplements Are Very Popular

2010-02-02T20:38:00.007-05:00

More and more seniors are dropping their Medicare Advantage plans and going back to Medicare with Medicare supplements. Blue Cross Blue Shield has been overwhelmed with BCBS medicare supplements applications. It's caused some timing issues but BCBS is working quickly to resolve any and all issues.

Under normal circumstances BCBS's turnaround time is 2 weeks for a Medicare Supplement application but due to the large number of applicants they got behind. They covered people back from January 1st, but by then applicants had paid a premium for their previous coverage.

People can drop their Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Medicare but in order to do so they need to enroll in Medicare Part D and medicare supplements are important. BCBS Medicare supplements are competitively priced and they offer a variety of benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Supplemental Insurance Seminars

2010-01-25T22:08:00.005-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida offers Medicare beneficiaries valuable seminars and events to educate BlueMedicare members about Blue Cross Blue Shield supplemental insurance, Senior expos, Medicare Advantage plans and other Medicare information.

There is a special event being held at The Courtyard Fort Lauderdale to educate those interested in Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO, PFFS), medicare supplements, and Medicare Part D plans for 2010 from BCBSFL. Most events are at no cost and they offer valuable information with representatives to answer any questions.

A full calendar of events is available on BCBSFL's website with dates, locations, times, and event overviews. If this is information you would find valuable check to see if a seminar is coming to your area and take advantage of the free information.

BCBS Statement on Health Care Reform

2010-01-19T09:48:00.006-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield has an official statement on their website supporting health care reform. They support changes to the health insurance industry to ensure everyone has protection, costs are manageable and there is an improvement in quality.

Some other highlights of BCBS's vision for health care reform include covering all Americans, even those with pre-existing conditions. They support government subsidies to encourage personal responsibility to obtain and maintain coverage. They want a simpler process for those shopping for individual health insurance and small businesses to shop around. A greater focus on wellness and an improvement in the management of chronic conditions is on their list of priorities. They want to ensure BCBS Medicare supplements are affordable and have all encompassing coverage.

Blue Cross Blue Shield continues to support the debate as Congress comes together to determine a plan that works best for our nation. They want a health care system that meets the needs of all Americans including our future generations.

BCBS Urging Congress On Medicare and Health Care Reform

2010-01-11T17:03:00.003-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield companies have been urging Congress to maintain Medicare Advantage plans as well as Medicare Part D plans according to their website. They believe the future of private plan choices in Medicare depends heavily on maintaining stable rules as well as dependable funding for the programs.

The introduction of Medicare Part D, which offers prescription drug coverage, changed business for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplemental insurance. It gave BCBS the opportunity to offer more comprehensive options to eligible members. They have compiled numerous documents for Blue companies, employers and members in regards to the changes in Medicare.

Blue Cross Blue Shield feels it's in their best interest as well as the consumer's, to keep Medicare strong and reliable. With health care reform upon us, it is still to be seen how the changes will affect the many retired citizens.

BCBS Medicare Supplements Changing

2010-01-04T13:38:00.003-05:00

According to Blue Cross Blue Shield's website Medicare Advantage Plans through BCBS will not be available in numerous states as of January 1, 2010. This is one of the several changes being implemented through BCBS this year.

These states include Arkansas, Arizona, DC, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas and Vermont. Four regional Medicare Advantage PPO Plans are available through BCBS. Medicare Advantage plans must include prescription coverage in at least 1 of their MA benefits options. Regional PPO's and SNP's must have prescription coverage in all of their offered options.

Blue Cross has numerous BCBS medicare supplements available and it's definitely worth looking into if you are eligible for Medicare. With the changes being put forth with the new health care bill and BCBS it's more important than ever to ensure you have enough coverage with Medicare and Medigap plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Supplemental Insurance Affected By Health Care Reform

2009-12-30T18:36:00.006-05:00

The Senate passed a landmark health reform bill on December 24th which could mean big changes for those receiving Blue Cross Blue Shield supplemental insurance. Medicare is going to be affected by the changes and BCBS as well. The following information was found in the article "Senate Approves Health Care Bill" by Robert Pear on nytimes.com.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the cost of the new bill would be offset by new taxes and fees and savings directly from Medicare. About half a trillion dollars would be taken from Medicare by reducing payments to hospitals, nursing homes, private Medicare Advantage plans as well as other health care providers. Some Republicans believe that the cuts to Medicare will directly take away from benefits which would make more people turn to private insurance companies for supplemental insurance at an extra cost.

It's much too early at this point to determine how the bill will affect the pocketbooks of those on Medicare and using supplemental insurance, but supporters of the bill say Medicare will look different, but not necessarily worse. Medicare would cover more of the cost for prescription drugs and other preventative services under the new plan.

BCBS Medicare Supplements Making Customers Satisfied

2009-12-22T11:31:00.004-05:00

According to the Blue News page on BCBS's website about 9 out of 10 senior citizens are happy with their medicare supplement coverage. Medigap policyholders believe they get good value for their money according the the survey recently released by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

This survey was conducted by American Viewpoint, Inc and they found that about 88% of Medigap customers are satisfied with their coverage and 62% are very satisfied. 87% would recommend their coverage to a friend or family member. The survey shows that the number one aspect of their coverage that they like is that they can choose any doctor they wish and that it provides peace of mind. They also find that it's easier to deal with medical bills and medical paperwork.

About 68% of those surveyed would oppose the government taking action to require seniors to pay annual deductibles and other medical expenses that are currently covered by the Medicare program. Many companies offer Medigap policies, including Blue Cross which has BCBS Medicare supplements.

Blue Cross Blue Shield on Health Care Reform

2009-12-15T12:22:00.002-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield released some information on their website last week to clear up some unauthorized ads.

Basically, the coalition on Get Health Reform Right learned that ads that were not authorized claimed to be from the coalition appeared on some social networks to promote individuals to contact their elected officials with an incentive program.

Get Health Reform Right wanted to communicate that they don't pay nor incentivize people to communicate to Congress in any way. The coalition would never and has never engaged in such prohibited practices. They are not condones by the coalition and it is considered unacceptable. Get Health Reform Right is a project of organizations to ensure consumers have the opportunity to access employer-based health plans.

The Be Healthy Program by BCBSAL

2009-12-07T15:00:00.003-05:00

The Be Healthy Program is offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and it's worth get acquainted with if you are a member. BeHealthy.com has loads of useful information from health topics to medication and news.

The main goal this program has is to keep BCBSAL members healthy. It's part of the For Your Health Wellness Program and offers tools to lead a healthier lifestyle. You can access brochures filled with health information as well as log exercise through the WalkingWorks Program.

It's these types of programs being offered by health insurance companies across the country that are trying to fight the epidemic of obesity and sick Americans. The For Your Health Wellness Program is a great initiative to keep members healthy and at the same time possibly keep claims down. That can be beneficial for everyone's health insurance rates over time.

BCBSRI Rate Increase for Direct Pay Plans

2009-12-01T21:10:00.003-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) is looking to increase their rates for their Direct Pay Plans. They have asked the RI Health Insurance Commissioner to approve a rate increase of 10.2%.

Direct pay plans are available to individuals and families who are ineligible for group insurance plans or government sponsored plans. This type of plan is the only health insurance program in RI which is guarantee for those who cannot get other health insurance coverage.

BCBSRI has many programs that make finding affordable health insurance easier. Some examples of these plans include Access Blue Subsidy Plan, The Wellness Reward Plan, and the Preferred Rate System. Finding Rhode Island Health Insurance does not have to be challenging.

Anthem Blue Cross SmartSense

2009-11-23T12:52:00.002-05:00

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a portfolio of affordable health insurance plans called SmartSense health plans. Premiums can be as low as $50-$60 per month based on the deductible and benefits you choose.

Some other highlights of the plan include a wide range of deductibles that you can choose, access to a big network of physicians and hospitals, no referrals needed, prescription benefits, online support readily available, and a sound reputation behind the plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has many different products available to consumers who are in many different situations. They have superior customer service and have many programs available to support the well being of their members.

BCBSAL Walking Works Program

2009-11-16T22:46:00.003-05:00

BCBSAL has a new walking program called "Walking Works" available to their members. Information about the program can be found of the BCBSAL website.

The BCBSAL walking program offers the ability to make a firm committment to walk on a regular basis and to record progress. Research says that walking briskly daily can help with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, muscle tone, reducing bone loss, strengthening your heart and reducing potential health problems in the future.

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends thirty minutes of brisk walking 5 days a week. A goal of 10,000 steps per day is optimal for good health. BCBSAL's Walking Works Program online assists in all of these goals. It outlines the benefits of walking regularly and offers the tools you will need to meet your walking program goals.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and Their Medicare Supplement Plans

2009-11-10T12:49:00.002-05:00

Medicare supplement plans often lose money for companies as is the case for Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Michigan (BCBSM). Because of this, they do not generally market their medicare supplement product.

Currently, BCBSM has a majority market share for this product at about 60% despite not aggressively advertising Medicare supplement plans. The second largest market share is United Healthcare just below 20%. That shows how little market share is left for other health insurance companies. But other health insurers are trying to take advantage of the fact that BCBSM isn't promoting this product.

Priority Health, Aetna and Blue Care Network all plan on launching Medicare Supplement plans to Michigan residents in the coming year. Health Alliance Plan has been selling Medicare supplement plans since 2008. Blue Care Network is a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan so will share market share.

BCBSAL New Baby Program

2009-11-03T11:37:00.004-05:00

"Baby Yourself" is a new program for to-be parents and new parents brought to you by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. All of the information about the program can be found on their website, but below are some highlights.

This unique prenatal benefit offers expectant mothers support and educational material to help inform parents all that comes with having a newborn. Materials are gone over by a Blue Cross registered nurse who has experience in labor/delivery and infant care. A personal nurse is assigned to families to answer any questions parents may have. Complimentary products are available to support healthy habits and to learn about the various products on the market.

All members of BCBSAL have access to this plan free of charge as part of their plan benefits. Their website has a video available as well which discusses many highlights of being new parents. It's called "Baby Yourself, A Prenatal Wellness Program". You can enroll for this useful program through their website or by calling their toll free number which is listed on their site. With new parents often being extremely overwhelmed with all the information that is out there, this plan proves to be very valuable.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Offer

2009-10-27T10:44:00.002-04:00

A new Medicare Advantage plan has been offered to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida's portfolio for eligible members. BlueMedicare Regional PPO has joined a senior health insurance group which already includes HMO, PPO, Fee for service, medicare part D as well as other traditional Medicare Supplement Plans.

The monthly premium for this plan is extremely low at $45 per month. Members can choose their own physicians and as well as their own hospital. No referral letters are required to see specialists. There is in-network and out-of-network options for the members.

This opportunity is very useful for members of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. Seniors who are eligible for this particular plan should research what benefits will be made available to them. Saving money and ensuring proper health insurance coverage are two high priorities for seniors in general and this plan helps attain both goals at once.

Blue Cross Terminating Some Plans

2009-10-19T21:50:00.004-04:00

According to the article “Medicare Advantage Premiums Expected to Rise 25% Next Year” by Jane Zhang for The Wall Street Journal online, rates that seniors citizens pay for Medicare Advantage are increasing soon. This is partly because insurance companies are cancelling many plans that carry no premiums in response to new federal guidelines.

Independence Blue Cross is terminating plans that cover approximately 44,000 seniors. Other companies are cancelling their plans or reducing them dramatically. The number of Medicare Advantage Plans will drop by about 40% overall according to an Avalere analysis. It's important to understand what changes may be made to your plan. If you have lost your coverage you can shop for replacement coverage at http://www.healthinsurancesort.com/.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Blueworks Program

2009-10-12T21:00:00.005-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has an important awards program. Blueworks is a collaboration between BCBSA and the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy. This information was found on Blue Cross Blue Shield's website in their Newsroom.

The Blueworks program has been giving awards for the last five years and last week they recognized 6 more BCBS companies with a total of 7 Blueworks Awards for new and creative ways of improving the quality of the health care system.

The Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy researchers evaluate and choose BCBS companies’ health care programs for recognition based on their innovation. BCBSA president and CEO, Scott P. Serota states that the winning programs are great examples of the work BCBS companies are doing in the community to improve the health care system. They are providing consumers with extremely valuable information needed to help make important health care and health insurance decisions.

BCBSM and the Flexible Blue

2009-10-05T22:07:00.003-04:00

During these tough economic times, many are looking for ways to save money on health insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) offers an affordable individual health care plan called Flexible Blue which is available to residents of Michigan.

Monthly premiums for Flexible Blue can be as low as $52.82/mos with a $5000 deductible and it is an HSA qualified health insurance program. They also include optional plans that can be added such as maternity coverage and dental insurance. It's just one more example of Blue Cross Blue Shield trying to help people save money.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

2009-09-28T09:36:00.002-04:00

There has been much concern over the raising costs of health insurance over the past few years. With the proper research and shopping around, you can still find affordable health insurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama offers a low cost health insurance plan called Individual Blue to help those struggling to afford their health care costs. The program is designed specifically for children and young adults from birth to the age of 24. For children 0-14, with the 750 plan, rates can be as low as $69 a month. For young adults ages 15-24 the Individual Blue plan can be as low as $72 a month.

This is a great option for parents as they are searching for affordable rates for their children to be properly covered. Blue Cross Blue Shield has taken this initiative to assist residents during these tough times.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Talks About Health Care Reform

2009-09-21T13:56:00.003-04:00

The news article entitled “New Census Report Underscores Need for Health Care Reform” can be found on Blue Cross Blue Shield's website. In the article there is a statement from President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Scott P. Serota. This particular statement follows the release of a report from the US Census Bureau that says the number of uninsured people across the country has increased from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.4 million in 2008. This staggering statistic has industry experts concerned.

Serota believes that no one should find it difficult to have quality, affordable health insurance readily available. He states that 46 million uninsured is unacceptable. Blue Cross Blue Shield strongly believes that reform is crucial. According to Serota, health insurance coverage should be made available to everyone.

Blue Cross Blue Shield supports initiatives that are working towards this goal. They see building on the employer based system currently in place as a workable solution. He states that the high number of uninsured is also because of the recession, but something still needs to be done now with the health care system to ensure the trend of increasing uninsured Americans does not continue.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Covering Swine Flu Vaccines

2009-09-13T21:23:00.003-04:00

About 1 million Americans have been infected with the swine flu, according to the article “Individual Health Insurance Could Provide Assistance for Swine Flu Vaccines” by Maggie Guo found on the Ethiopian Review. The swine flu is also known as the H1N1 virus.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is covering their policy holders who carry vaccine coverage as an important benefit.

Once the Food and Drug Administration approves treatment there will be about 160 million doses of vaccines according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical trials are in progress. Throughout the nation, cities are setting up free clinics to give vaccines. There will be 100 centers in New York City in addition to a center at each elementary school. Chicago and LA are also following similar projects.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Sponsors Bike Program

2009-09-06T17:00:00.003-04:00

According to the article "Blue Cross Blue Shield: Sponsoring bike ridership in Minneapolis" by Matthew Kassner on examiner.com, Blue Cross Blue Shield has recently announced that they will be sponsoring the Nice Ride bike share program in Minnesota.

Nice Ride is a bike rental program designed to provide more options for commuters by offering a green solution to transportation. Bikes are made available to rent in the city instead of driving cars which contribute to pollution.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to sponsor the program because there are several countries and cities across Europe that have seen great success in similar programs. They are also looking to break the disturbing trend of obesity in the US through sponsoring an event that focuses on creative exercise. This event gets people out and moving and it also improves street congestion and can contribute to a more sustainable transportation system in big cities.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Fraud Investigations

2009-08-30T19:58:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) companies’ anti fraud investigations have caused savings and recoveries of approximately $350 million for the year 2008 according to the article “Blue Cross And Blue Shield Companies’ Anti-Fraud Efforts Recover $350 Million In 2008″ on BCBS.com.

According to data released from BCBS National Anti-Fraud Department, recoveries have increased by about 43%. The number of cases opened increased by around 34% and closed cases increased by around 43% from 2007 to 2008.

About 3% of all health-care spending is lost due to fraud every year according to The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association. This adds up to an estimated $68 billion in losses each year. The savings for the total BCBS companies’ anti fraud units or Special Investigative Units was $7 for every $1 spent on anti-fraud efforts. BCBS continues to be a leader in detecting fraud according to Scott P. Serota, who is BCBSA president and CEO.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut Ratings

2009-08-23T21:46:00.004-04:00

Consumer Report's September issue ranked the top preferred provider organizations (PPO) and health maintenance organizations (HMO) in the nation. Forty one PPOs and 335 HMOs were rated. All ratings were based on 37,000 survey results.

The highest rated PPO plan was Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut. The highest rated HMO was Group Health of Idaho and Washington. The average health insurance rates were $1,829 which is up 38% from 2 years ago. PPO members paid on average $2,003 and HMO members averaged $1,466.

64% of the people who took the survey said they were very or completely satisfied with their health insurance company. 10% of respondents were dissatisfied.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas: ValueBlue

2009-08-17T19:31:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) has partnered up with both the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Medical Society to form the new ValueBlue health insurance product.

ValueBlue is designed for Kansas residents who earn less than 200% of the federal poverty level and haven't had insurance for a year or more.

BCBSKS, Kansas Hospital Association, and the Kansas Medical Society created the plan to use a special network of hospitals and health professionals who agree to accept 50% of standard payment allowances, enabling BCBSKS to offer ValueBlue at about half the cost of other similar health plans in the state of Kansas.

The administrative costs that are created by offering the ValueBlue health plan are all covered by BSBCKS.

AskBlue Information

2009-08-09T10:45:00.003-04:00

AskBlue is a customer tool develop by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to assist those looking for health insurance. It is a program that helps individuals make choices and decisions about their health insurance needs. This can often be a confusing process so AskBlue hopes to relieve some of the challenge. The tool helps customers find individual health insurance plans offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance health plans.

The tool is very user friendly. Simply answer some questions and anonymously you will receive a brief summary that outlines health insurance options that will help you make your decision on what type of policy you need.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield survey takes some time to go through, but is worth the trouble. With many searching for the proper health coverage, it is important to ensure consumers are making informed decisions and this tool is a huge help for individuals and families shopping for health insurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and The Keiki Care Plan

2009-07-31T22:03:00.005-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield has planned an initiative to increase access to affordable health insurance for the uninsured in Hawaii. As more Americans become unemployed, the number of uninsured families increase.

The Keiki Care Plan is a great opportunity for many Hawaiian families. It's a partnership between the state of Hawaii and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii, through the partnership, offers health coverage to uninsured children in Hawaii with no monthly premium. The cost of coverage is shared between the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The Keiki care Plan provides health benefits which include preventive care, immunizations, doctor’s visits, diagnostic tests, emergency care and limited prescription drug benefits. It is a 3 year pilot program targeting Hawaiian children whose families are not able to afford health insurance. Many families will find huge relief in this beneficial program.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and Miami-Dade County

2009-07-22T08:56:00.004-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance of Florida has come together with Miami-Dade County for a unique partnership according to the article “Dade, Blue Cross offer health plan” by John Dorschner on miamiherald.com. There are about 600,000 uninsured in Miami-Dade county and leaders felt that it was time something was done about this.

Janet Perkins with the Office of Countywide Healthcare Planning believes this is a cutting edge program for Florida and has the potential to be a national model. BCBS coming together with the country is a huge step. It is named Miami-Dade Blue and it's a bran new option to offer affordable health insurance to those having difficulty finding coverage. The health insurance plan would cost a healthy 35 year old man about $100 a month which is extremely low. This concept was first introduced by Commissioner Joe Martinez about 5 years ago. He said it has been a long, hard road, but he’s very excited and good things will come from this plan.

There are a few concerns over the benefits that will be offered by the program. Some health insurance brokers believe the benefits may be lacking when compared to a standard health insurance policy. This may cause confusion and ultimately disappointment when claims are filed. One of the major challenges was to get providers to offer discounted costs. About 1,500 doctors have agreed to be included in the Miami-Dade Blue network. This is a great start to the program and hopefully it will significantly decrease the number of people in the county who cannot get insured currently.

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas on the Health Care Debate

2009-07-17T09:08:00.004-04:00

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) put out a memo on their website that goes over where they stand on the hot topic of health care reform going on in Congress right now. BCBSTX believes strongly that health care reform is needed and affordable health insurance should be made available to every single American.

Currently, Obama has proposed a plan to have a government run insurance program to compete with private health insurance companies. BCBSTX thinks a government run plan would eventually push out private insurance companies and eliminate the benefits of competition. This may lead to a system where government controls too much, including access to health care and prices.

BCBSTX supports a plan that would require health insurance companies to offer coverage to every applicant. They feel this will only work if each American is required by law to have health insurance benefits. They also support continued research to determine which medical advancements should be pursued, determined by an independent party.

More detailed information is available at BCBSTX's website on their stand on health care reform.

BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Covers New Law

2009-07-08T08:22:00.003-04:00

On BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois’ website they go over some details on the new Illinois health insurance law that became effective June 1st. The Young Adult Dependent Coverage Law which says if you have dependents meeting certain criteria you can extend their coverage under your current health insurance.

Eligibilty requirements for non-military dependents are being under 26 years old and unmarried. For military dependents you can be under 30, unmarried, an Illinois resident, and must have received a discharge other than dishonorable. For both categories you do not need to be enrolled as a full time student to receive the benefits.

This coverage may not apply to everyone and some dependents may need to meet additional requirements. If you believe this new law may benefit you, and you have questions contact BCBSIL for more information.

BCBS Requiring New Authorization

2009-07-02T10:16:00.004-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance of Florida is now requiring psychiatrists to obtain authorization before treating patients in their office or out-patient offices. This is according to the article "Blue Cross requiring psychiatrists to get prior authorization before treating patients” by Liz Freeman from naplesnews.com.

BCBS of Florida sent notices to psychiatrists that outline the new rule which goes into effect on October 3rd. The contract amendment needs to be signed by the health providers by June 24th if they accept Blue Cross. The new pre-authorization is required to treat patients for office visits, inpatient admissions, and for partial psychiatric and substance abuse health care. Emergency visits are still covered but the provider needs to request authorization.

BCBS of Florida officials advised that the new authorization rule is partially because of the new Mental Health Parity Act of 2008 which is designed to stop inequity between medical treatment and mental health treatment for plans with 50 plus employees. The David Lawrence Center is a private non-profit mental health center in Golden Gate, FL which believes the new rule will increase costs, but their patients will not have any fee increases and they won't turn any patients away because they have BCBS.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado Ratings

2009-06-24T20:30:00.004-04:00

J.D. Power and Associates rated the leading health plans in Colorado in their 2009 health plan ratings. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado rated among one of the best nationally for provider choice and average in overall experience.

The ratings recently came out by J.D. Power and Associates in 2009. They are based on a study that included responses from over 33,000 members of private health insurance plans. The survey was completed online between December 2008 and January 2009. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona also ranked well for their region.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Top Ranked

2009-06-18T14:16:00.005-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona was named the top rated private health insurance in the Arizona/Utah area according to JD Power and Associates' 2009 Health Plan ratings.

The ratings are based on many things including health information and communication, health insurance claims processing, billing statements, approval processes and of course, the forever crucial customer satisfaction.

This is very important recognition for Blue Cross Blue Shield, especially during a time when many health insurance companies are struggling.

Blue Cross Blue Shield on Mail Service

2009-06-09T10:52:00.003-04:00

Have you had any Blue Cross health insurance quotes? If you have or you are already a member you may know about mail service pharmacy. Mail service is designed for patients who take medication on a regular basis to treat chronic conditions.

Mail service has many benefits, one of which is spending less money on medication. A 90 day supply may be as much as a 60 day supply depending on the drug, and you pay less copays for buying more at a time. Mail service pharmacy will also save you time by delivering the medications directly to your mailbox so you can avoid those sometimes hectic visits to the pharmacy. Mail service is safe and secure as medicine is delivered in unmarked packages which are checked for accuracy after a technologically advanced system dispenses your dose. This is a perfect option for those dealing with ongoing medications and those who like to save money and time.

BCBSIL Availity Platform for IL Providers

2009-06-04T17:32:00.002-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is now offering the Availity platform to its providers. This system gives instant access to member information, status of claims and benefits. It also offers many other functions which are expected to lower costs, increase efficiency and better the patient relationship.

The Availity web portal is a secure method of sharing information. Built and operated by FL based Availity, LLC, BCBSIL is excited to offer this service to its providers with no charge. Availity is designed to ensure that the sharing of information is a smooth and efficient process. It's of critical importance that information is accurate and attainable in the health care industry.

Blue Cross Health Insurance Wants Healthier Living

2009-05-26T14:48:00.006-04:00

If you are a member of Blue Cross Blue Shield, or get a Blue Cross health insurance quote, you may be eligible for their healthy living plan, Blue365.

Blue365 gives members access to educational guides and information on healthy living, discounts on health programs and products from well known companies focused on health. Blue Cross Blue Shield intends for this program to encourage people to make healthier choices each day of the year & by offering this support they are taking a step towards a healthier community.

AHCI Honoring BCBSIL with Outstanding Leadership

2009-05-19T10:42:00.002-04:00

The Asian Health Coalition of Illionois (AHCI) has announced it is honoring Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) with its Corporate Leadership Award because of their superior efforts promoting health. BCBSIL has also been a strong supporter of AHCI.

BCBSIL places their role in community as a high priority and is honored to be receiving this award. They support hundreds of nonprofit groups yearly to assist the uninsured. BCBSIL's President, Paul Boulis, accepted this award at AHCI's fundraising event last month.

Blue Cross And Blue Shield Companies Celebrate National Walk @ Lunch Day®

2009-05-11T21:48:00.003-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the country are working with employers to get their employees healthier. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are holding lunchtime walks across America as part of the third annual National Walk @ Lunch Day® because of the high costs that come along with an inactive lifestyle.

Walks are being hosted in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to engage employees, consumers and community leaders in healthy activities to promote the health benefits of walking. Thousands of walkers are participating in this healthy initiative.

Daily, brisk walking is one of the easiest and safest forms of exercise. A regular walking program can help control weight, condition the heart and lungs, strengthen bones and help you towards a healthier lifestyle.

New Diabetes Management Program from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

2009-03-23T23:24:00.003-04:00

According to the San Antonio Business Journal, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is bringing the acclaimed Bridges to Excellence diabetes management program to multiple Texas markets. These markets include cities like Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Austin; as well as rural areas of the state covered by BCBSTX. The insurer says it's serving as the program's sponsor because of Texas' increase in diabetes diagnoses.

The Bridges to Excellence system helps patients by rewarding doctors that are effective in treating diabetic or pre-diabetic patients with high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, too wide a waist circumfrence, and/or high tryclicerides. It gives physicians financial motivation to assist and guide patients in developing healthy eating and exercise habits.

CEO/President Fired From Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota

2009-03-15T15:56:00.003-04:00

Following up on the recent controversy surrounding Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota's expensive executive vacations, the Associated Press' James MacPhereson reports that Mike Unhjem, President and CEO since 1991, has been fired. The BCBSND board says that the move was necessary to regain the public's trust, and that similar retreats have been canceled.

Uhnjem's compensation increased by 61% between 2006 and 2008, even as the insurer was losing money and insisted that it needed to increase health insurance rates in order to cover claims. The company is currently searching for a new chief executive, and executive VP of health operations Tim Huckle will serve as CEO and president in the interim.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Under Fire For Vacation Rewards

2009-03-06T17:34:00.003-05:00

ND's Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm is taking aim at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota for rewarding its top sales reps with a 4-day, expenses-paid Cayman Islands vacation. He believes it's inexcusable for BCBSND to do that when the costs will be passed on to the policyholders in the form of higher health insurance rates, especially during these economic times. The trip is estimated to cost about $250,000.

Meanwhile, last year Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND sought to increase its rates, which Hamm refused to allow. Following his denial, executives claimed that they were unable to cover expenses. Apparently, they found enough money for some 35 employees and their guests to have a Carribean retreat.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Offered Settlement

2009-02-25T12:37:00.004-05:00

North Dakota's insurance commissioner, Mark Hamm, has proposed a settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota regarding its request to increase its health insurance rates. BCBSND is currently reviewing the terms and still deciding whether they will accept the offer, says Patrick Springer in the INFORUM. The state's proposal allows the insurer to raise its premiums, but not by as much as Blue Cross Blue Shield desired.

Three groups of policyholders will be affected by the rate increases:

A 14% premium increase for individuals receiving coverage through the bank depositors' group (about 31,000 in ND). Originally, BCBSND wanted a 14.8% rate increase, and later re-filed for an 18.3% increase.
A 20% increase in premiums for non-group student coverage. That's less than the 23% requested in the re-filing, and around the same as the initial 19.9% increase they asked for.
An 8% premium increase for about 115,000 residents with group health insurance coverage, down from both the first request of 14.9% and the revised 11.4% increase.

Overcharged by Blue Cross of California and Anthem Blue Shield

2009-02-19T11:49:00.004-05:00

Regulators in California recently discovered that two of the state's largest health insurers, Blue Cross of California and Anthem Blue Shield, are overcharging consumers for last-resort health coverage and violating a 2001 state law that sets a cap on the premium insurers can charge. Anthem Blue Shield has been found to charge up to 36% above the cap, while Blue Cross' health insurance rates have been as high as 55% over! These extra charges resulted in people paying thousands of dollars more per year for health insurance.

Last-resort health insurance was established in 1996 under HIPAA (the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountablity Act) and is intended for individuals who have lost their employer-based health insurance and whose COBRA benefits have expired. Insurers under HIPAA are not allowed to turn away individuals based on pre-existing conditions, so premiums tend to be more expensive.

A representative from Anthem Blue Shield claims that they were using their own interpretation of the cap and didn't do anything wrong; however, they will agree to switch to a weighted average to calculate premiums in order to do so. Blue Cross of California promises to reimburse consumers that were overcharged since 2006.

About 19,000 Californians were affected by the higher premiums. The state may decide to order the insurance companies to reimburse consumers who were overcharged.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Increases Rates

2009-02-09T13:58:00.005-05:00

More bad economic news for Michigan residents: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) is seeking double digit rate increases on many of their individual health insurance plans when they file their new rates with the state's office of financial and insurance regulation. Rate increases sought will on average be a blistering 55% on individual health plans (which will impact more than 400,000 enrolled members), and 32% for their portfolio of Medicare supplement plans. The cost of group conversion plans, which are for individuals transitioning out of employer-sponsored coverage, is be set to increase by 42%.

The insurer blames the Michigan state legislature for the increase in health insurance rates, because they failed to act on two health insurance reform bills.If the state approves the proposal, it will take effect in June..

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Offers New BlueSelect Health Insurance

2009-01-29T12:43:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida announced in a press release that they are launching the BlueSelect health insurance plan in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Partnering with several local hospitals, BCBSFL is lowering health insurance rates for individuals in the state.

What BlueSelect offers:

Up to 20% savings on services and premiums
Higher benefit level for in-network services than the existing BlueOptions plan
Lower benefit level for out-of-network services than BlueOptions
prevention and wellness
personalized care
a community based network of doctors and hospitals

The product is intended for people who are working and are either uninsured or soon to become uninsured. It also works for small employers looking to offer coverage at a lower cost to their employees.

Rate Hikes for Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan

2009-01-21T11:32:00.003-05:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) recently announced that will be seeking double digit rate increases on many of their individual health insurance plans when they file their new rates with the state office of financial and insurance regulation.

Rate increases sought will on average be a blistering 55% on individual health plans (which will impact more than 400,000 enrolled members), and 32% for their portfolio of Medicare supplement plans.

BCBSM has stated that the aforementioned health insurance rate increases are necessary due to the failure of the Michigan legislature to act on two bills to reform individual health insurance. if the increases are approved, consumers will (literally) pay the price through higher health insurance rates.

BCBS Massachusetts Patients May Lose Tufts Access in February

2009-01-11T18:29:00.004-05:00

The physician's group of the renowned Tufts Medical Center and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts have failed to reach an agreement in their negotiations. Tufts claims that its physicians are underpaid compared to other Boston hospitals. Blue Cross refuses to increase their compensation unless Tufts agrees to a quality-based payment program that offers extra payment over the basic coverage when certain benchmarks are met.

Blue Cross members will be unable to see Tufts doctors as of February 1st, unless patients who suffer from chronic conditions or are terminally ill receive a three-month extension. Since Blue Cross Blue Shield is the top health insurance provider in the state, this will hurt a lot of people. However, increasing payments to Tufts doctors could result in increasing health insurance rates, which isn't ideal either.

Patients with BCBS HMO coverage will have to pay the entire cost for an office visit out-of-pocket if they wish to continue seeing a Tufts physician; otherwise, they must find an alternate provider.

Those with BCBS preferred provider organization (PPO) plans can retain access to doctors at Tufts, but must pay 20% of the cost in addition to continuing to pay their premiums.

NJ's Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Announces New Individual Options

2008-12-31T14:02:00.003-05:00

The Insurance and Financial Advisor reports that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is now offering three new health insurance plans for individuals. Each plan allows consumers to pick their own physicians and medical specialists without getting a referral, and lets consumers use out-of-network services (at an extra charge, of course).

Robert Meehan of Horizon BCBSNJ says that the plans are more cost-effective than their existing offerings, and will appeal to people in this struggling economy.

The new Horizon plans are as follows:

Horizon Direct Access Plan A 70/50 - insurer pays 70% of in-network co-insurance pays, and 50% of out-of-network co-pays
Horizon Direct Access Plan B 80/70 - insurer pays 80% of in-network co-payments, 70% of out-of-network co-pays
Horizon Direct Access Plan C 100/70 - insurer pays 100% of in-network co-pays, 70% of out-of-network co-payments

These new plans seem like a good option for New Jersey residents in need of more affordable health insurance rates.

BCBS of North Carolina Offers Free Generics

2008-12-18T12:33:00.000-05:00

This announcement is a nice holiday gift: starting in January and through June of 2009, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is waiving co-payments on generic medications for over 1 million policyholders. Higher usage of generic drugs (as opposed to their brand name equivalents) saves insurers like BCBS money and lowers health insurance rates. North Carolinans are eligible for the waiver if they are:

enrolled in BlueAdvandtage
enrolled in the Medicare Supplement program
enrolled in employer-sponsored group insurance covered by BCBS
enrolled in BCBS-covered self-funded employer groups that include prescription drug benefits

Check with your insurance policy to see if you're eligible.

Federal Employee Benefit Changes Under BCBS

2008-12-08T09:20:00.001-05:00

The Blue Cross Standard plan, which is the most popular among federal employees, has increased co-payments for out-of-network surgeries. Stephen Losey of the Federal Times reports that an individual must pay a $7,500 co-pay for every single surgery from an out-of-network surgeon. They will also now have to shell out an $800 co-pay for anesthesia out-of-network, in addition to $350 for emergency room care from an out-of-network physician.

These changes in BCBS' proposed 2009 health plan are under fire because they were buried in the middle of a 136-page brochure and not heavily advertised. Since federal employees' health benefits automatically renew each year, these new charges would probably come as a surprise to many of the 4 million federal workers covered under the Blue Cross Standard plan. The Office of Personnel Management argues that the new policy is actually better for consumers, because at least they will now know how much to expect in out-of-pocket expenses. According to Stephen, several politicians, such as Maryland senator Benjamin Cardin (D), are asking for the changes in health insurance rates to be reversed. December 8th is the last day for federal employees to choose their health plans.

Health Services Corporation Names CEO

2008-11-04T08:23:00.001-05:00

Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates the Blue Cross and Blue Shield member Plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, announced the election of Pat Hemingway Hall as the new CEO, effective Nov. 1, 2008.

Hall previously served as the Chief Operating Officer and President of HCSC.

HCSC, is the largest customer-owned health insurance company in the United States and the 4th largest health insurer in the country overall, with 12.4 million members spread across BCBSIL, BCBSNM, BCBSOK, and BCBSTX.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina

2008-10-06T11:30:00.000-04:00

Medicare Advantage open enrollment is rapidly approaching (11/15 - 12/31) for seniors, age 65+. Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina (BCBSSC) is offering a number of products to serve these seniors in South Carolina.

In South Carolina, more than 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries have a choice of about 200 plans being offered by more than 20 companies, including BCBSSC.

BCBSSC will offer three fee-for-service plans and two PPOs plans. BCBSSC began marketing its two PPO offerings, Medicare Blue and Medicare Blue Plus yesterday.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina also offers individual health plans for individuals and families under age 65, without access to group health insurance

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA)

2008-10-03T13:38:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) has announced that they are now offering an affordable vision plan called Blue View Vision.

The vision plan provides access to more than 600 network providers in Georgia and to more than 44,000 providers and provider locations nationwide.

Blue View Vision members are entitled to a number of important benefits and discounts on products and services, including; comprehensive eye-examinations and coverage for lenses, frames and contact lenses.

New Blue Vision members also enjoy additional savings of up to 40% on the purchase of extra pairs of glasses, conventional contact lenses, lens treatments, and other non-covered items, even after they've exhausted their covered benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia also offers individual health insurance policies for Georgia residents without access to group health coverage.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)

2008-09-24T13:59:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and state governments are helping to expand health insurance coverage for workers at small businesses and are central to addressing one of the key challenges facing the healthcare system.

BCBSA today released new data from a survey of 400 small employers participating in the Insure Oklahoma program. The survey found that 56% of all Insure Oklahoma enrollees were previously uninsured. Insure Oklahoma helped some firms offer coverage for the first time

The program also helped employees that previously had access to employer coverage but could not afford it.

The Insure Oklahoma program is an employer-sponsored insurance program that provides premium assistance to small employers with low-wage workers.

BCBSAZ offers another innovative solution to help small employers is a premium subsidy program available to Arizona residents.

Highmark Health Plans

2008-09-09T08:45:00.000-04:00

Highmark is asking the Pennsylvania Insurance Department for permission to increase health insurance rates on 17 of their individual health insurance plans.

Some of the health plans are offered in cooperation with BCBS of Northeastern PA, and Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The proposed rate increases range from 3% to 9%. The rate increases will be approved in November, if the department takes no action.

All of the health plans for which increases are proposed are guarantee-issue plans, meaning disclosure of medical history is not required and applicants can't be declined.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida

2008-09-02T09:37:00.000-04:00

One of Florida's largest HMOs, Florida Health Care Plans, is being sold to BlueCross BlueShield of Florida.

The $85 million sale is expected to be completed in the 4q of 2008. The deal will not have any immediate effect on existing contracts and policies, either with its contracted doctors or 57,000 existing members.

BlueCross BlueShield of Florida has agreed to employ Florida Health Care Plans’ current 800 workers for at least two years.

The deal evolved after Florida Health Care Plans sought to improve its out-of-area network of health care providers for its members.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Consolidation

2008-08-27T12:54:00.000-04:00

Some not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans (BCBS) are considering mergers to help them compete with larger health insurance companies. Not for profits, regional, as well as smaller health insurers are finding it harder to compete against larger players for many reasons, including the need for economies of scale.

The two largest not-for-profit BCBS plans in Pennsylvania, Highmark and Independence BCBS, are seeking approval for a proposed merger.

Anthem Wellpoint is considered a likely purchaser of the bcbs health plans that convert to for-profit status. Humana also may be a likely purchaser of BCBS plans that convert to for-profit status.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida

2008-08-22T13:41:00.000-04:00

Press Release

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) announced the appointment of Arnold "Duke" Livermore as executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. In his new role, Mr. Livermore will continue to report directly to Robert M. Lufrano, MD, chairman and chief executive officer, BCBSF.

Mr. Livermore previously served as executive vice president, business operations for BCBSF.

Mr. Livermore joined BCBSF in January 2000 with the responsibility to direct capability development.

Prior to joining BCBSF, Mr. Livermore was senior vice president of information strategies with Barnett Bank/Bank of America Corp.

Mr. Livermore holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Information Systems from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Trigon Health Insurance

2008-08-19T13:15:00.000-04:00

I got a kick out of this funny TV commercial for Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield (VA)

Trigon TV Commercial

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL)

2008-08-11T09:35:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois intends to not to pay for costs resulting from hospital-based preventable medical errors known as "serious hospital acquired conditions" and "never events" (errors in patient care that can and should be prevented).

BCBSIL said it will work with hospitals in its networks to put this new approach into operation and ensure that members are held harmless financially when these events occur. BCBSIL also reiterated its longstanding commitment to collaborating with contracted network providers to prevent medical errors before they occur.

Anthem BCBS Colorado

2008-08-05T12:08:00.000-04:00

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Colorado on Monday launched an online tool that allows its members to comparison shop.

Anthem said Colorado members now can access Anthem Care Comparison, which provides estimates costs of 39 medical procedures at hospitals, surgery centers or radiology centers. Information also is included on routine office visits.

The data is specific to individual facilities, allowing members to compare the difference in costs between hospitals, for instance. The cost information will be updated quarterly.

Compare Colorado health insurance plans

Regence Group

2008-07-29T13:19:00.000-04:00

HealthLeaders-InterStudy reports that Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueShield of Washington are well positioned to make a significant play in the Medicare market. According to the new report entitled Blue Profiler: Oregon & Washington -- The Regence Group, both plans focus primarily on Medicare PPO offerings, while their competition has traditionally offered HMO and private fee-for-service options.

According to the report, Regence is now the second largest local Medicare PPO vendor nationwide with more than 85,000 members. The local PPO offers operators flexibility as they do not have to offer the plan to seniors throughout an entire region, but instead, can determine in which counties the option will be available. In Washington, for example, Regence offers the Medicare PPO in 18 counties across the state.

Wellpoint Senior Health Quoting

2008-07-22T15:40:00.000-04:00

Norvax, the #1 provider of technology and Internet tools for health insurance sales, has teamed with WellPoint to launch a new health insurance quoting platform that will allow agents and brokers to better serve the fast-growing Medicare-eligible health insurance market.

The new senior health quoting feature allows agents to generate and compare multiple Medicare supplemental plans in seconds.

Medicare supplemental plans provide many of the benefits that aren't covered by standard Medicare Part A or Part B plans. This includes long-term care, hearing aids, private-duty nursing, dental care and vision care. But the most important Medicare supplemental plan sought by seniors is the Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM)

2008-07-15T09:11:00.000-04:00

There is new information about a possible rate hike involving Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

State officials have shot down the BCBSM proposal. The company wanted to increase health insurance rates for some customers up to 24%.

The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation says that rate increase is too steep. It didn't rule out a rate increase but says that BCBSM needs to scale it back in these tough financial times.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina

2008-07-10T08:11:00.000-04:00

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has introduced Blue Spectrum, a rebranding of the BCBSSC's health plans that adds affordable health insurance plans designed for both groups and individuals seeking more health care options.

Blue Spectrum eventually will include several layers of health insurance options for small group employers and individuals. Business Blue is a series of health plans for groups (2-50 employees), and Personal Blue plans is their individual health insurance offering.

Three group products are now available under Business Blue:

Business Blue Complete, a full coverage health plan;

Business Blue HDHP, a high deductible health plan; and a new plan called

Business Blue Secure, which offers similar coverage but adds cost reduction factors that allow for a lower premium.

Additional plans will be introduced under the Blue Spectrum portfolio, including:

Business Blue Basic and Personal Blue Basic, which offer the lowest premiums and meet basic insurance needs.

Personal True Blue, an addition to the existing group plans available to chamber members.

Blue Cross Merger Bad for Pennsylvania?

2008-07-07T13:19:00.001-04:00

Pennsylvania Insurance Department officials expect an earful Tuesday when public hearings begin on the proposed merger of Highmark and Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia.

Competitors will argue the merger could hurt competition. Health care providers are expected to express concerns about negotiating with an organization that would control more than 50 % of the Pennsylvania health insurance market.

Some companies doing business with both Highmark and Independence Blue Cross are concerned that one partner's alleged poor business habits could rub off on the new combined organization, thus providing mediocre service.

Highmark and Independence Blue Cross announced their intention to merge in March 2007, saying the company would generate more than $1 billion in economic benefits, position the new company to better serve customers and health care providers, improve health care quality, create jobs and generate business.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS)

2008-07-01T09:37:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), the state's largest health insurer serving nearly 900,000 Kansas residents, has been recognized for its long tradition of ethical business practices by receiving the 2008 Northeast Kansas Business Ethics Award.

BCBSKS, which won the award in the medium-sized company category, is now entered into the American Business Ethics Award (ABEA) competition, sponsored by the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP).

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

2008-06-26T10:50:00.000-04:00

New Jersey's largest health insurance company (BCBSNJ) is once again considering filing to change its entity status to for-profit (from not-for-profit)

It is at least the third time since 1997 that Horizon has considered a conversion; the most recent attempt was abandoned three years ago.

If it converted, Horizon would pay an estimated $1 billion to $3 billion over the next five years to reimburse the state for the tax breaks it received as a nonprofit organization.

Established nearly 80 years ago, Horizon now serves about 3.6 million New Jersey residents. It is also one of the biggest providers of Medicaid, health insurance for more than 1 million poor or disabled people.

The conversion process in New Jersey could take 15 months or longer.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA)

2008-06-25T09:48:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) introduced two new PPO products called SmartSense and Premier that will provide Georgia residents with more affordable individual health insurance options.

The SmartSense plan is designed for consumers who are price conscious and want solid protection to cover the essentials.

The Premier plan is designed for customers who want the security of a comprehensive benefit design with lower out of pocket costs. This plan is also a good choice for families with children, or those planning to have children.

In addition to SmartSense and Premier, BCBSGA also offers Tonik -- an individual product targeted toward Georgia's "young invincibles" -- individuals between the ages of 18 and 29.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Wisconsin

2008-06-24T08:36:00.000-04:00

Press Release

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin, today announced a $99,000 grant to the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership to provide health care services to low-income, uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved populations in Milwaukee. The funds will be shared among three Community Health Centers (CHCs): the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, Westside Healthcare Association, and Health Care for the Homeless.

The Milwaukee Health Care Partnership will use the grant to advance its "medical home" service delivery model, which helps patients establish an ongoing relationship with a primary care provider to improve continuity of care and enable patients to better manage their own health.

"The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is committed to improving the health of our communities," said Steve Martenet, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "These grant funds will help individuals receive the care they need so they can lead happier, healthier lives. We support the excellent work of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership and its allies, who are creating positive outcomes for all those they serve."

Defined in federal statute, CHCs are neighborhood-based health centers which provide medical, dental, behavioral and preventive health services to underserved populations in their service area and the community. There are four CHCs in Milwaukee County, 17 across Wisconsin and 3,800 CHC service sites nationwide. The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation has a history of supporting the CHC delivery model. Last year, the Foundation donated $101,500 to the Milwaukee Health Services CHC in support of their diabetes patient prescription and supply project.

In addition to health care, the three CHCs supported by the grant provide a full array of enabling and support services -- such as social work, transportation, financial counseling, language interpretation, and prevention education -- which address medical and non-medical factors that impact health status and outcomes and help patients navigate the complexities of the health and human services delivery system. Each CHC provides eligibility screening and application assistance for Medicaid, BadgerCare, General Assistance Medical Program and other government programs to help individuals access the care they need.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM)

2008-06-23T08:33:00.000-04:00

From Crain's Detroit

Insurance Commissioner Ken Ross believes it is well within state laws for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to have purchased a California-based for-profit insurance company for $125 million in 2007.

But Attorney General Mike Cox is still investigating allegations that Blue Cross violated state laws by acquiring CompWest Insurance Co. and several other insurance companies for its Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America, a workers' compensation insurer.

Under state law approved in 1993 when the state sold Accident Fund to the Blues for $262 million, Accident Fund is limited to workers' compensation insurance and employer's liability insurance.

A 1999 amendment also allows Accident Fund to sell limited types of disability insurance to replace lost wages.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

2008-06-20T10:31:00.000-04:00

Health Care Services Corporation, The parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is buying a software maker (Medecision Inc.) that designs software to help health insurance companies better manage diseases of its subscribers. The purchase price is north of $120 Million

Medecision will become a subsidiary of Health Care Service after the deal closes, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2008, the companies said. Its services will be used by its current health plan clients as well as Health Care Service, which has 12.4 million members, including 7.4 million in Illinois.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Earnings Decline

2008-06-18T10:46:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans posted a 18.2% decline in operating earnings as revenues increased by 7.4% in 2007.

Results for the 39 independent Blue Cross Blue Shield plans varied; 6 had improvements in operating margins of at least one percentage point and nine worsened by three or more percentage points.

The median premium rate increase was 5.4% as median medical costs per member increased by 6.4%. Results varied by each of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS)

2008-06-17T15:29:00.000-04:00

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) announced it was banning smoking at its workplace.

Beginning July 1, BCBSKS will be tobacco-free at its headquarters and 10 field offices.

Use of tobacco products will be banned on any owned or leased company property including company cars or on company-paid break times.

BCBSKS first told its employees of the no-smoking policy in December and offered to reimburse employees up to $100 of expenses for approved tobacco-cessation products.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM)

2008-06-16T08:29:00.000-04:00

From Detroit Free Press

The Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative is part of a bigger initiative at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to improve health care through regional partnerships around the state.

Since 1996, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) has awarded $3.5 million in grants for initiatives. They include projects tracking outcomes from angioplasty, cardiac surgery, general and vascular operations and breast cancer treatment.

The oldest program, following patients getting angioplasty, a minimally invasive, artery-clearing procedure, has saved $8 million in reducing kidney failure, deaths and other treatment-related problems, according to Blue Cross. It has given grants totaling $3.5 million for a wide range of projects. Blue Cross has received three national awards honoring the ground-breaking nature of the quality improvement programs.

They include the 2007 eValue8 Health Plan Innovation award from the National Business Coalition on health and two Best of Blue awards in 2006 for innovation in medical and pharmacy management, from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield network.

Nancy Birkmeyer, associate professor of surgery at the University of Michigan and director of the bariatric collaborative, started work on the registry in 2004. After inviting hospitals to attend a meeting on the registry, she spent another year getting each hospital to approve the design of the study and to train people at each institution to collect the data.